I tried out a new gym location in Norfolk tonight. It’s in the heart of the city so you have to pay to park in their garage or you can park on the street. I should say you can *parallel* park on the street. (I’m great at a lot of things, but backing a vehicle INTO a parking space is just not one of them.)

I attempted to parallel park on the narrow cobblestone streets. People were driving at me, people were driving behind me. It was so dark + there were so many headlights, so many bumps, so many things I don’t know about the new car I’m driving. I finally just decided that a 30 minute Tabata class at the local YMCA was not worth that much anxiety. So I let all the headlights clear out + I made my way around the corner instead.

I counted the street blocks, in hopes that I wasn’t too far away from the gym, because it’s cold tonight + I was only in a sweatshirt + a scarf (I’m always in a scarf when it’s cold). I took the first spot I found in which I could pull up + reverse straight back along the curb. (I can back vehicles up in a straight line just fine. That counts for something, right?) I get out of the car, notice that I’m parked in front of my favorite house in the Freemason District + rush off to class. (It was only a block away by the way. That also counts for something, right?)

It wasn’t until after class, as I made my way back to my car, that I noticed how my favorite house was decorated + OF COURSE it’s decorated perfectly. It’s my favorite house for a reason. Well, for lots of reasons.

Anyway, I’ve never been so thankful for my awful parallel parking skills before. This small dose of Christmas magic was worth the street block walk in the cold.

I’ve began so many different times in so many different ways over the last few years, that I’ve lost track of the beginnings. Some were involuntary (most of them were, if I’m being totally honest) + some were voluntary, the follow-your-heart-even-if-it-doesn’t-make-sense kind of voluntary.

Involuntary, voluntary...it doesn’t really matter. Because every time I begin, it feels a little less uncomfortable, a little more free + a whole lot more right.

Right. That’s what we’re all hoping for really. We all want change, we all want our beginnings to feel right. To feel alright. To feel correct.

Whether we realize it or not, it’s always correct. It’s always alright. It’s always right. It’s just hard to feel it when we’re in the thick of it.

So I begin. Again + again + again + again + I will keep beginning every time, because it feels uncomfortably, comfortable. Because it feels free. Because it just feels right.

Short on time? Short on motivation? Throw a little self-care into your style choices.

When was the last time you took a moment for yourself? When you’re constantly on the go for your kids or your business or your day job, it’s easy to be so wrapped up in life, you lose sight of your joy. People rely on you, dreams need to be nourished, bills need to be paid. Your needs just aren’t a priority right now. I get it, babe, I really do.

Here’s the thing, though. The only way you can provide for your kids or your dreams or your job is if you make sure to provide for yourself first. You can’t give something you don’t have. And the only one who can take care of you the way you need to be taken care of while you’re constantly on the go is YOU.

Tap into some warm layers so you can feel (and share) joy more freely. Layer a puffy vest over your plaid shirt. Throw a cardigan over your favorite t-shirt. Wear a big blanket scarf with just about everything. Better yet, wear two big blanket scarves with just about everything.

Putting yourself first when making style choices is an easy yet empowering form of self-care. You can make any outfit YOURS simply by choosing things you want to wear because you want to wear them. When you put yourself first in this way, it’s fulfilling and authentic and a heck of a lot more joyful to take care of all the things.

I drink chai tea every day. I could be having the worst day in the world, and the idea of going home to a warm cup of chai tea is literally what gets me through the day. It’s how I unwind. It’s like this warm, non-judgmental hug in a mug. It calms me down, warms me up and opens my heart to new possibilities and to the love in the world, even when I have a really hard time finding or seeing that love. It is the epitome of my daily inspiration.

Cup of Chai is how I share those hugs, that love and all of my daily inspiration with you. I hope you feel inspired, empowered and deeply loved every time you’re here.

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@caitsherrick

You are so lovely.

And you get 10% off your first purchase.Where should I send your discount code?

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